During the conclusion of the detailed discussion of the State Budget for 2026, the sole deputy of JPP, Filipe Sousa, justified his change of vote by stating that the Government has chosen to “maintain everything as is” and views “mobility as a luxury and not as a fundamental right in a state that claims to be cohesive,” thereby disrespecting citizens of the autonomous regions.
“This Budget does not correct this injustice; on the contrary, it prolongs it. It prolongs it because this Government, once again, refuses to acknowledge that mobility is the key to equality. Without mobility, there is no true territorial continuity, without mobility there is no equality of opportunity, without mobility there is no respect for the Portuguese living in the autonomous regions,” he argued.
Filipe Sousa asserted that the “Government fails the autonomous regions because it does not wish to do things differently,” adding that “when investment in mobility is lacking, structural underfunding is not corrected, the contribution of the regions to the country is not recognized, and autonomy is not respected.”
“The JPP will not forgo defending Madeira. Because we do not accept crumbs or favors disguised as budgetary measures, we will vote against this State Budget,” he declared.
On October 28, the Government’s proposal for the State Budget for 2026 was approved in the general assembly with votes in favor from PSD and CDS-PP and abstentions from PS, PAN, and JPP.
[News updated at 12:24 PM]
